An ambitious plan to turn Orange’s old bluestone quarry into a luxury waterfront residential estate is becoming a reality.
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Developer Jim Simpson has spent six years planning and constructing a gated 16-house community out of the former quarry on Racecourse Road with its 20 metre-deep, spring-fed waters.
With an access road under construction, rock walls built, a path laid, the lake stocked with Murray Cod and silver and golden perch fish and the first five blocks sold, the Bluestone Lake Estate is going ahead.
Real estate agent Ash Brown from One Agency said 11 blocks remaining to be sold at $295,000 each.
An open day will be held on site on Saturday from 12.30pm.
Mr Brown said the historic quarry had provided bluestone for Orange for many years but closed several years ago, leaving Orange City Council unsure what to do with it.
“Every federation house in Orange would have stone from this quarry, this is where they got it all from,” he said.
“Council was going to fill it in for some other purposes, green space or whatever.”
That’s when Mr Simpson came up with the idea for a unique Orange address.
“A lot of people laughed it off and said it would never happen. That’s why it has taken so long, he had to get their heads around what he wanted to do.
“This is his only ever development and he’s quite passionate about it. He’s going to live here, too.”
Mr Brown said construction on the first four houses would start next month and they should be finished by the end of the year.
Within two years it is expected all the blocks would be built on.
He said he expected owners would spend between $500,000 and $1 million on the houses.
“They will be spacious and modern, a lot of glass and a lot of timber and brick and built with the lake in mind.”
“He’s not going to let anyone build a little fibro house in among a lot of big ones. They are trying to keep a theme.”
Only residents and their guests will have access to the lake with its shared beach and barbecue areas and only non-powered craft will be allowed on the lake.
All the houses will be on the eastern side of the lake giving residents a clear view of the bluestone and tree-lined western wall.
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
